Equipment.

[LittleRaePhotography]

I have a Canon Rebel xs with two lenses; canon 18-55mm and canon 75-300mm.
I dont have anything other than these things and am an Amateur photographer looking to start a side business so I can be a stay at home mom and earn a little bit of money.

What equipment would you recommend?

[zona5101]

Hi and welcome!

Why do you think you need more /different equipment?

[veritasimagery]

It really depends on what you want to shoot.

[dlambert]

It's pretty important that you understand what sorts of photos you want to shoot, and maybe even more important to understand what it is about your current equipment that's holding you back. Add a budget on top of that, and we can start making recommendations.

Without those things, we're just going to be throwing Canon wish lists at you, which can be entertaining, but probably isn't especially helpful.

[Tzetsin]

I dont want to sound like a dick or anything, but if you really need to ask what kind of equipment you need, you probably shouldnt be charging people money.

[A@EPOCH]

Given what has already be said...all be it good or bad, I'll try and help under the few parameters you gave. My first assumption would be that you plan on doing at least some portrait work, in which case given that no budget was listed, I would start off with a 50mm 1.8II. For about $100 you'll not only get a decent fast lens, but since it is a prime (fixed length) then you will learn to compose with your feet and not be static. Hope this helps!

[NicoleScraps]

Hey, I have two canon kit lenses similar to what you have. I have not run into any situation to date that one or the other lens could not handle. I did buy the nifty fifty because the price was great and I wanted the sharpness of a prime. Unless you are photographing in a very low light situation, your lenses are fine.

[RichardTaylor]

As others have said it all depends on what you are shooting.
As Jim Bryant suggested just 3 lenses will will cover a lot of shooting needs
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS

To that I would add two bodies (preferably full frame) and two 580 EX flash guns.
Of course you will need enough batteries & cards to cover a shoot.

I am a hobbyst who is sometimes asked to cover events.

That means, that I will get "good" photographs no matter what the shooting conditions are, always.

If I don't feel I have the gear or the skills to cover it then I will decline it.

I shoot with Canon cameras but do not have any of the lenses above.

If I am covering an indoor a classical music concert and cannot use a flash.
I will have
Canon 5D and a Canon 40D
Primes 24mm F2.8, 35mm F2, 50mmF1.8 and 135mm F2 L.

If I am covering an event (like a citizenship ceremony) and do not know what the shooting conditions will be like or a choir performing indoors and outdoors over a weekend..
Canon 5D and a Canon 40D
Canon 24-105 for the group and general scene shots (this will be on the 5D)
Canon 70-200 F4 L on the 40D for the head shots etc.
A 35mm F2 and a 135 F2 L.
Two 580EX flash guns and one external battery pack.

As a final back up I have a Canon 350D (Rebel Xt) with a 17-85 kit lens.

For a motor racing event.
Trackside it will be a 40D + Canon 100-400 lens and a backup will be a Canon 350D + Canon 70-300 or Canon 70-200 F4 L.(this will depend on the track)
I also have wet weather gear for myself and the cameras
As far as the car owner/drivers go these are the ones that count.

Around the pits & garages it will be a 5D+24-105 for the general shots and the 40D + 70-200 F4 L for the head shots. Sometimes I will have a 12-24 F4 just in case.

On top of all this you need camera bags/harnesses etc.

The bottom line is that you cannot ever have an "off" day, let gear failure, or shooting conditions impact on your photographs. They may be a bit different, but they must still meet the clients needs.

[LittleRaePhotography]

Originally Posted by zona5101

Hi and welcome!

Why do you think you need more /different equipment?

I'm just trying to self teach all of this. I haven't taken any classes in YEARS and I really enjoy it.

[dlambert]

Originally Posted by veritasimagery

It really depends on what you want to shoot.

Absolutely. Since you've already got equipment that covers a good focal range, I'd say you want to figure out what you're going to shoot, and then make some observations about stuff you wish your equipment did better. We can make all sorts of equipment recommendations (we *love* spending other peoples' money), but in order to get really *good* recommendations, it'll help immensely if we know what you're trying to improve.